Latching Solenoid Actuator with Container Installation Detection

ABSTRACT

There is disclosed a mechanism for detecting that a valve coupled to a pressurized container is fully installed into a nose piece of a latching solenoid actuator coupled to a fire suppression system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a pressure valve coupled to a pressurizedcontainer, and more particularly to a mechanism for detecting that thepressure valve is fully connected to a latching solenoid associated withpressurized container.

Fire suppression systems used pressurized containers of a firesuppressant material under high pressure. These pressurized containersare installed in a system that includes plumbing from each container toa location associated with the fire detection or fire alarm switch usedto initiate delivery of the fire suppressant material from the containerthrough the plumbing to suppress the fire. A latching solenoid isactivated to operate a valve coupled to the container to release thesuppressant material from the pressurized container to the plumbing thatdelivers the suppressant material to the fire.

The pressurized containers must be pressure tested at regular intervals,typically annually. The pressurized containers may also have to bereplaced after use or damage. Since such systems typically contain manysuch pressurized containers, each pressurized container must be removedfrom the system, tested, and assuming that it passes the test,reinstalled into the system. Frequently, one or more pressurizedcontainers is not reinstalled, or reinstalled properly, which is a majorproblem that typically goes undetected.

The National Fire Protection Association has passed requirements,effective in 2016, that fire suppression systems having an electricactuator (latching solenoid) must be “supervised” and provide audibleand visual indication of system impairment at the system's releasingcontrol panel. This disclosure is intended to meet such requirements.

It is known to use an electrical conductor and alarm externally attachedto the pressurized container, valve, and solenoid to detect that thecontainer is installed in the system. Such sensing circuits detects thepresence or absence of a container. However, such sensing circuit willnot sense if the valve coupled to the container is fully installed withthe actuating solenoid.

The apparatus of the present disclosure must also be of constructionwhich is both durable and long lasting, and it should also requirelittle or no maintenance to be provided by the user throughout itsoperating lifetime. In order to enhance the market appeal of theapparatus of the present disclosure, it should also be of inexpensiveconstruction to thereby afford it the broadest possible market. Finally,it is also an objective that all of the aforesaid advantages andobjectives be achieved without incurring any substantial relativedisadvantage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The disadvantages and limitations of the background art discussed aboveare overcome by the present disclosure.

There is provided a mechanical sensor coupled to a latching solenoid,with the solenoid including a nose piece. The solenoid is coupled to acontrol unit and to a pressure valve of a vessel. The sensor includes adisk configured for reciprocal, axial movement within a first portion ofa first bore defined in the nose piece. An electrical switch is disposedin a second bore defined in the nose piece. The electrical switch iscoupled to the control unit. A switch push pin is disposed in a portionof the second bore, with the switch push pin in physical contact at oneend with the electrical switch, and with a second end extending into thefirst bore.

When the pressure valve is coupled to the latching solenoid, thepressure valve contacts the disk and moves the disk back against theswitch push pin to change the status of the electrical switch toindicate that the pressure valve is properly coupled to the latchingsolenoid.

A mechanical sensor may further include an adaptor, with the adaptorconfigured for rotational engagement with the nose piece and thepressure valve. The mechanical sensor may include an electrical switchthat is one of a normally open switch and a normally closed switch.

There is further provided a latching solenoid for a pressurized vesselhaving a pressure valve. The latching solenoid includes a solenoidcoupled to a control unit and configured to operate the pressure valve.

A nose piece is coupled to the solenoid. The nose piece defines a firstbore, with the first bore including a first portion, a second portion,and a third portion, with each portion having a different insidediameter.

A disk is disposed in the first portion of the first bore. The disk isconfigured to move a predetermined axial distance in the first portion.A bias member is disposed in the second portion of the first bore. Thebias member is configured to force the disk against the retainer memberdisposed in the nose piece.

A second bore is defined in the nose piece and is in communication withthe first portion of the first bore. An electrical switch is disposed inthe second bore, with the electrical switch coupled to the control unit.A switch push pin is disposed in a portion of the second bore. Theswitch push pin is in physical contact at one end with the electricalswitch, and with a second end extending into the first bore.

When the pressure valve is properly coupled to the latching solenoid,the pressure valve contacts the disk and moves the disk thepredetermined axial distance back against the switch push pin to changethe status of the electrical switch to indicate that the pressure valveis properly coupled to the latching solenoid.

There is additionally provided a method of sensing if a pressure valveattached to a vessel is properly coupled to a latching solenoid. Thelatching solenoid includes a nose piece and an adapter configured forrotational engagement with the nose piece and the pressure valve.

The method includes installing a disk in a first bore defined in thenose piece. The disk is configured for reciprocal axial movement withinthe first bore. An electrical switch is installed in a second boredefined in the nose piece. The electrical switch is coupled to a controlunit coupled to the latching solenoid. A switch push pin is installed ina portion of the second bore. The switch push pin is positioned to makephysical contact with the electrical switch at one end of the push pinand another end of the push pin extending into the first bore. Thepressure valve is installed in the adapter a distance sufficient to pushthe disk axially a predetermined distance back in the first bore tocontact the switch push pin and move the switch push pin to contact theswitch to change the status of the electrical switch indicating that thepressure valve is properly coupled to the latching solenoid. Thedistance sufficient to push the disk in the first bore is at leastninety percent of the axial length of a first portion of the first bore.

The apparatus of the present disclosure is of a construction which isboth durable and long lasting, and which will require little or nomaintenance to be provided by the user throughout its operatinglifetime. Finally, all of the aforesaid advantages and objectives areachieved without incurring any substantial relative disadvantage.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other advantages of the present disclosure are best understoodwith reference to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of a fire suppression system,including a plurality of pressurized containers coupled to a plumbingsystem, with one container coupled to a pressure valve and latchingsolenoid having a mechanical sensor.

FIG. 2 is an exploded, perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of amechanical sensor, adaptor, and latching solenoid.

FIG. 3 is a section plan view of the mechanical sensor, adaptor, andlatching solenoid illustrated in FIG. 2 assembled.

FIG. 4 is a partial plan view of a mechanical sensor, adaptor, andlatching solenoid coupled to a pressurized vessel with the solenoid notfully, properly engaged with the pressurized vessel.

FIG. 5 is a partial plan view of mechanical sensor, adaptor, andlatching solenoid coupled to a pressurized vessel with the solenoidfully, properly engaged with the pressurized vessel.

FIG. 6 is a partial, perspective view of the adaptor illustrated in FIG.3 coupled to the solenoid with two dowels, with the adaptor configuredfor rotational engagement with a nose piece of the solenoid and thepressure valve.

FIG. 7 is a partial, cross-section view of the mechanical sensorillustrated in FIG. 3 with a pressure sensitive film coupled to the diskand without an electric switch and switch push pin in the second bore.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the assembled latching solenoidillustrated in FIG. 2, including the mechanical sensor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1-8, an exemplary embodiment of a fire suppressionsystem 100 is illustrated in FIG. 1. A plurality of pressurizedcylinders 102 are coupled to plumbing 101 consisting of a variety oftubes and pipes of various sizes. The plumbing 101 is installed, forexample in a building, at various locations within the building. Thepressurized cylinders 102 contain, typically a fire suppression fluid164, with the system configured to deliver the fire suppression fluid164, from the pressure cylinders 102 through the plumbing 101, to alocation associated with the fire detection or fire alarm switch. Thedelivery of the fire suppression fluid 164 is initiated, typically by alatching solenoid 110 which activates a pressure valve 104 coupled toeach of the pressure cylinders 102. The solenoid 110 operates to movethe pressure valve to release the fire suppression fluid 164 from thepressurized cylinder 102 to deliver the suppressive material to a fire.

Because the pressure cylinders 102 have to be replaced after use, orreplaced because of damage or expiration of useful life, mechanisms havebeen used to determine whether or not the pressure cylinders areinstalled in the fire suppression system 100. A typical method is to useelectrical conductivity to determine if the pressure cylinders areinstalled in the system. Although electrical continuity systems willindicate if the pressure cylinder is installed, such system does nottypically indicate if the pressure cylinder is properly installed foroperation. For example, if the pressure cylinder and pressure valve arenot fully seated in a coupling with the latching solenoid the latchingsolenoid will not be in a position to operate the pressure valve torelease the fire suppression fluid from the pressure cylinder.

This disclosure provides a mechanical sensor 114 coupled to a latchingsolenoid 110 that will provide an indication that a pressure cylinder102 and pressure valve 104 are properly coupled in a fire suppressionsystem 100. The solenoid 110 is coupled to a controlled unit 106 throughcontrol wiring 108. The control unit 106 (also referred to as acontroller) and control wiring 108 provide electrical power to thelatching solenoid 110 and signal data from the mechanical sensor 114.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, a latching solenoid 110 includes a nose piece112. The nose piece 112 defines a first bore 118. The first bore definesa first portion 120, a second portion 122, and a third portion 124. Eachof the portions is defined by a different inner diameter D₁, D₂, and D₃respectively. (See FIG. 3) The first bore 118 extends through the fulllength of the nose piece 112. A solenoid pin 111 is disposed within thethird portion 124 of the first bore 118 and has a diameter ofapproximately the same inside dimension as the third portion 124 of thefirst bore 118. The solenoid pin 111 is moved by the solenoid mechanismwhen the latching solenoid 110 is activated. The solenoid pin 111 ispushed to engage the pressure valve 114 to release the fire suppressionfluid 164 from the vessel 165.

The mechanical sensor 114 includes a disk 116 which is configured to fitwithin the first portion 120 of the first bore 118 defined in the nosepiece 112. The disk 116 typically is round in shape and may have a stepprofile as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. The disk 116 can be composed ofany convenient material, for example, metal, engineered plastic,composite material or any combination of such material suitable for theapplication. The disk 116 is further configured for reciprocal, axialmovement within the first portion 120 of the first bore 118. The disk116 defines a central hole through which the solenoid pin 111 extends.The disk 116 is retained within the nose piece 112 by a retainer member156. The retainer member 156 can be for example a snap-ring asillustrated in FIG. 2. The retainer member 156 prevents the disk 116from moving out of the nose piece 112 and away from the latchingsolenoid 110.

A biasing member 160, for example a compression spring 162, is fittedwithin the second portion 122 of the first bore 118. The biasing member160 forces the disk 116 away from a back wall defined in the nose piece112 by the first portion 120 of the first bore 118. The pre-determinedaxial distance 142 resulting from the bias force of the bias member 160prevents the disk 116 from initially contacting a switch push pin 134described below.

The back surface (herein defined as the surface facing the solenoid 110)of the disk 116 can define an annular groove configured for engagementwith the switch push pin 134. In a preferred embodiment, the surface ofthe disk 116 that contacts the switch push pin 134 is planer along itsentire surface.

In another embodiment a pressure sensitive film 168 device, for examplea flexible membrane potentiometer having a lower power requirement and alinear output, is disposed between the back surface 117 of the disk 116and back wall 121 of the first portion 120 of the first bore 118. Inthis embodiment there is no electrical switch or switch push pin insecond bore 128. Sensor wires 170 coupled to the pressure switch film168 and the control unit 106 pass through the second bore 128. When thepressure valve 104 is properly coupled to the latching solenoid 110, thepressure valve 104 pushes the disk 116 back against back wall 121 of thebore squeezing the pressure sensitive film 168 and generating a signalthrough the sensor wires 170 to the control unit 106, indicating properengagement of the pressure valve 104 with the latching solenoid 110.

The nose piece 112 also defines a second bore 128. An electrical switch132 is disposed in the second bore 128 of the nose piece 112. Theelectrical switch 132 is coupled to the control unit through controlwiring 108 and an electrical connector associated with the latchingsolenoid 110. The electric switch can be one of a normally open switchand a normally closed switch.

A portion 130 of the second bore 128 is configured to receive the switchpush pin 134. The switch push pin 134 is in physical contact at one end136 with the electrical switch 132 and with a second end 138 extendinginto the first portion 120 of the first bore 118. (See FIGS. 4 and 5)The second end of the switch push pin 134 is configured with one of adome, a foot 140, and a cone. A base of the dome and cone will have thesame diameter as the switch push pin 134. The switch push pin 134 can becomposed of any convenient material, for example, metal, engineeredplastic, composite material, or any combination of such materialsuitable for the application. The switch push pin 134 is cylindrical inshape and configured to move in the portion 130 of the second bore 128.

When the pressure valve 104 is properly coupled to the latching solenoid110 the pressure valve 104 contacts the disk 116 and moves the disk backagainst the switch push pin 134. The switch push pin 134 moves againstthe switch 132 to change the status of the electrical switch 132 toindicate that the pressure valve 104 is properly coupled to the latchingsolenoid 110. It should be understood that when reference is made to thepressure valve, it includes not only the operative valve pin but alsothe valve housing. Typically it is the valve housing that is coupled tothe latching solenoid 110 through an adapter 144 which will be describedbelow.

The mechanical sensor 114 is configured such that the disk 116 ismaintained in a floating position in the first portion 120 of the firstbore 118 in the nose piece 112. The disk 116 is maintained in a coupledposition by the bias member 160. When the latching solenoid 110 iscoupled to the pressure valve housing 104, a male connector segment ofthe pressure valve housing pushes against the disk 116 and moves thedisk 116 back the predetermined axial distance 142 thereby pushing theswitch push pin 134 back against the electrical switch 132 therebychanging the status of the electrical switch. Such status change of theswitch 132 generates a signal (ON or OFF) to the control unit 106 toindicate that the pressure value 104 and its associated pressurecylinder 102 is properly fully engaged with the latching solenoid 110.Movement of the disk 116 the predetermined axial distance 142 iscalibrated to indicate that at least 90% of the male connector segmentof the pressure valve 104 is inserted in the adapter 144 which couplesthe latching solenoid 110 to the pressure valve 104.

The adapter 144 defines a threaded female portion which is configured toengage the male portion of the pressure valve 104. As described above,the threading of the adapter 144, which is coupled to the nose piece 112of the latching solenoid 110, must extend at least 90% of the distanceinto the female portion of the adapter 144 in order for the pressurevalve 104 to contact and move the disk 116 back against the switch pushpin 134.

The adapter 144 is coupled to the nose piece 112 in such a manner thatthe adapter 144 can rotate completely around the nose piece 112 as theadapter 144 threadingly engages the pressure valve 104. The nose piece112 defines an annular groove 152. The adapter 144 also defines twotraverse throughbores 146, 148 with each throughbore configured tointersect a portion 150 of the axial bore defined in the adapter withthe two throughbores 146, 148 aligned with the annular groove 152defined in the nose piece 112. (See FIGS. 3 and 5) A dowel 154 isdisposed in each through bore 146, 148 when the nose piece 112 isinserted into the adapter 144. Each dowel 154 engages the annular groove152 securing the adapter 144 to the nose piece 112 but allowing theadapter 144 to rotate about the nose piece 112.

The control unit, also referred to as a controller 106 may be amicroprocessor coupled to the various apparatus of the system. Thecontroller 106 may also be a server coupled to an array of peripheralsor a desktop computer, or a laptop computer, or a smart-phone. It isalso contemplated that the controller is configured to control eachindividual latching solenoid and may be remote from any of theapparatus. Communication between the controller 106 and the variousapparatus may be either by hardwire or wireless devices. A memory/database coupled to the controller may be remote from the controller 106.The controller 106 typically includes an input device, for example amouse, or a keyboard, and a display device, for example a monitor screenor a smart phone. Such devices can be hardwired to the controller orconnected wirelessly with appropriate software, firmware, and hardware.The display device may also include a printer coupled to the controller106. The display device may be configured to mail or fax reports asdetermined by a user. The controller 106 may be coupled to a network,for example, a local area network or a wide area network, which can beone of a hardwire network and a wireless network, for example aBluetooth network or internet network, for example, by a WIFI connectionor “cloud” connection.

For purposes of this disclosure, the term “coupled” means the joining oftwo components (electrical or mechanical) directly or indirectly to oneanother. Such joining may be stationary in nature or moveable in nature.Such joining may be achieved with the two components (electrical ormechanical) and any additional intermediate members being integrallyformed as a single unitary body with one another or the two componentsand any additional member being attached to one another. Such adjoiningmay be permanent in nature or alternatively be removable or releasablein nature.

Although the foregoing description of the present mechanism has beenshown and described with reference to particular embodiments andapplications thereof, it has been presented for purposes of illustrationand description and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit thedisclosure to the particular embodiments and applications disclosed. Itwill be apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art that a numberof changes, modifications, variations, or alterations to the disclosureas described herein may be made, none of which depart from the spirit orscope of the present disclosure. The particular embodiments andapplications were chosen and described to provide the best illustrationof the principles of the disclosure and its practical application tothereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize thedisclosure in various embodiments and with various modifications as aresuited to the particular use contemplated. All such changes,modifications, variations, and alterations should therefore be seen asbeing within the scope of the present disclosure as determined by theappended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to whichthey are fairly, legally, and equitably entitled.

What is claimed is:
 1. A mechanical sensor coupled to a latchingsolenoid, with the solenoid including a nose piece, the solenoid coupledto a control unit and to a pressure valve on a vessel, the sensorcomprising: a disk configured for reciprocal, axial movement within afirst portion of a first bore defined in the nose piece; an electricalswitch disposed in a second bore defined in the nose piece, theelectrical switch coupled to the control unit; and a switch push pindisposed in a portion of the second bore, with the switch push pin inphysical contact at one end with the electrical switch, and with asecond end extending into the first bore, wherein when the pressurevalve is coupled to the latching solenoid, the pressure valve contactsthe disk and moves the disk back against the switch push pin to changethe status of the electrical switch to indicate that the pressure valveis properly coupled to the latching solenoid.
 2. The mechanical sensorof claim 1, further comprising an adaptor, with the adaptor configuredfor rotational engagement with the nose piece and the pressure valve. 3.The mechanical sensor of claim 2, wherein the adaptor defines twotraverse throughbores, with each throughbore configured to intersect aportion of an axial bore defined in the adaptor with the twothroughbores aligned with an annular groove defined in the nose piece,wherein a dowel disposed in each throughbore will engage the annulargroove securing the adaptor to the nose piece and allowing the adaptorto rotate about the nose piece.
 4. The mechanical sensor of claim 1,wherein the status of the electrical switch is one of a normally OPENswitch and a normally CLOSED switch.
 5. The mechanical sensor of claim1, wherein the vessel is a pressure cylinder containing a firesuppression fluid.
 6. The mechanical sensor of claim 1, wherein thesecond end of the switch push pin is configured with one of a dome, afoot, and a cone.
 7. The mechanical sensor of claim 1 further comprisinga bias member disposed in a second portion of the first bore andconfigured to force the actuator towards the pressure valve.
 8. Themechanical sensor of claim 7, wherein the bias member is a compressionspring.
 9. A latching solenoid for a pressurized vessel having apressure valve, the latching solenoid comprising: a solenoid coupled toa control unit and configured to operate the pressure valve; a nosepiece coupled to the solenoid; a first bore defined in the nose piece,with the first bore including a first portion, a second portion, and athird portion, with each portion having a different inside diameter; adisk disposed in the first portion of the first bore, the diskconfigured to move a predetermined axial distance in the first portion;a bias member disposed in the second portion of the first bore, the biasmember configured to force the disk against a retainer member disposedin the nose piece; a second bore defined in the nose piece and incommunication with the first portion of the first bore; an electricalswitch disposed in the second bore, the electrical switch coupled to thecontrol unit; and a switch push pin disposed in a portion of the secondbore, with the switch push pin in physical contact at one end with theelectrical switch, and with a second end extending into the first bore,wherein when the pressure valve is coupled to the latching solenoid, thepressure valve contacts the disk and moves the disk the predeterminedaxial distance back against the switch push pin to change the status ofthe electrical switch to indicate that the pressure valve is properlycoupled to the latching solenoid.
 10. The latching solenoid of claim 9,further comprising an adaptor, with the adaptor configured forrotational engagement with the nose piece and the pressure valve. 11.The latching solenoid of claim 10, wherein the adaptor defines twotraverse throughbores, with each throughbore configured to intersect aportion of an axial bore defined in the adaptor with the twothroughbores aligned with an annular groove defined in the nose piece,wherein a dowel disposed in each throughbore will engage the annulargroove securing the adaptor to the nose piece and allowing the adaptorto rotate about the nose piece.
 12. The latching solenoid of claim 9,wherein the status of the electrical switch is one of a normally OPENswitch and a normally CLOSED switch.
 13. The latching solenoid of claim9, wherein the vessel is a pressure cylinder containing a firesuppression fluid.
 14. The latching solenoid of claim 9, wherein thesecond end of the switch push pin is configured with one of a dome, afoot, and a cone.
 15. The latching solenoid of claim 9, wherein the biasmember is a compression spring.
 16. A method of sensing if a pressurevalve attached to a vessel is properly coupled to a latching solenoid,the latching solenoid includes a nose piece and an adaptor configuredfor rotational engagement with the nose piece and the pressure valve,the method comprising: installing a disk in a first bore defined in thenose piece, the disk configured for reciprocal axial movement within thefirst bore; installing an electrical switch in a second bore defined inthe nose piece, the electrical switch coupled to a control unit coupledto the latching solenoid; installing a switch push pin in a portion ofthe second bore, with the switch push pin positioned to make physicalcontact with the electrical switch at one end of the push pin andanother end of the push pin extending into the first bore; andinstalling the pressure valve in the adaptor a distance sufficient topush the disk axially a predetermined distance back in the first bore tocontact the switch push pin; and moving the switch push pin to contactthe switch to change the status of the electrical switch indicating thatthe pressure valve is properly coupled to the latching solenoid.
 17. Themethod of sensing if a pressure valve attached to a vessel is properlycoupled to a latching solenoid, of claim 16, wherein the distancesufficient to push the disk in the first bore is at least ninety percentof the axial length of a first portion of the first bore.
 18. The methodof sensing if a pressure valve attached to a vessel is properly coupledto a latching solenoid, of claim 16, wherein the adaptor defines twotraverse throughbores, with each throughbore configured to intersect aportion of an axial bore defined in the adaptor with the twothroughbores aligned with an annular groove defined in the nose piece,wherein a dowel disposed in each throughbore will engage the annulargroove securing the adaptor to the nose piece and allowing the adaptorto rotate about the nose piece.
 19. The method of sensing if a pressurevalve attached to a vessel is properly coupled to a latching solenoid,of claim 16, wherein the status of the electrical switch is one of anormally OPEN switch and a normally CLOSED switch.
 20. The method ofsensing if a pressure valve attached to a vessel is properly coupled toa latching solenoid, of claim 16, wherein the vessel is a pressurecylinder containing a fire suppression fluid.